Holyrood election RECAP: Latest updates as parties launch campaigns

SNP First Minister John Swinney warned about a deal between Reform and Labour at his campaign event in Glasgow this morning.

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar then ruled this out when speaking in the east end of the city not long afterwards.

The Greens, Lib Dems and Tories all took to Edinburgh to launch their campaigns.

But the biggest news was involving the one major party which wasn’t launching its campaign today.

A fourth Reform candidate announced they were withdrawing their candidacy.

Linda Holt - who called Humza Yousaf an “Islamist” - said she was withdrawing due to a lack of support from the party.

This was despite Malcolm Offord giving her public backing on Sunday.

But perhaps what is more timely is that she came eighth on the Mid Scotland and Fife regional list - meaning she had pretty much no chance of getting elected.

A spicy first day, and there will be plenty more to come.

This includes The Scotsman’s hustings at The Assembly Rooms in Edinburgh on Tuesday, March 31.

You can read more about this event - which will be attended by Reform UK Scots leader Mr Offord - here.

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